Northern Ireland
US President Joe Biden has arrived in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for a four-day visit to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The historic peace deal, signed in 1998, ended 30 years of violent conflict in the region.
Mr Biden was greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he stepped off Air Force One at Belfast International Airport. The White House hailed the “tremendous progress” since the agreement was signed.
However, the trip is overshadowed by the fact that Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government is not functioning. It collapsed last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) pulled out in protest against post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.
Mr Biden’s visit includes a speech at the new Ulster University campus in Belfast, during which he is expected to emphasise the US commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity. He will also discuss his Irish roots and meet Irish relatives.
The president’s spokesman said Mr Biden was “more than comfortable making this trip” in spite of the terrorism threat, which has increased due to a rise in activity by dissident republicans. A huge security operation has been in place for most of Tuesday, with many city centre streets closed ahead of the visit.
Mr Biden is also set to meet the leaders of Stormont’s five main political parties at some point during his brief time in the city. Michelle O’Neill, vice-president of Sinn Féin, said his visit would be a “special moment”.
Former Irish ambassador to the US Daniel Mulhall said that while Mr Biden would have preferred to have spoken to politicians at a functioning Stormont assembly, his speech would be “very carefully crafted to get across the message that essentially America is here to help”.
Prime Minister Sunak will not meet any of Northern Ireland’s political leaders while he is in Belfast, but a spokesperson said that did not mean he had given up on getting the DUP back into power-sharing.
US President Joe Biden has touched down in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for a four-day visit to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The historic peace deal, signed in 1998, brought an end to 30 years of violent conflict in the region.
Mr Biden was welcomed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he disembarked Air Force One at Belfast International Airport. The White House praised the “tremendous progress” since the agreement was signed.
Unfortunately, the trip is marred by the fact that Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government is not currently functioning. It collapsed last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) withdrew in protest against post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.
During his visit, Mr Biden will deliver a speech at the new Ulster University campus in Belfast, where he is expected to stress the US commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity. He will also discuss his Irish roots and meet Irish relatives.
The president’s spokesman said Mr Biden was “more than comfortable making this trip” despite the terrorism threat, which has increased due to a rise in activity by dissident republicals. A huge security operation has been in place for most of Tuesday, with many city centre streets closed ahead of the visit.
Mr Biden is also scheduled to meet with the leaders of Stormont’s five main political parties at some point during his brief time in Belfast. Michelle O’Neill, vice-president of Sinn Féin, said his visit would be a “special moment”.
Former Irish ambassador to the US Daniel Mulhall said that while Mr Biden would have preferred to have spoken to politicians at a functioning Stormont assembly, his speech would be “very carefully crafted to get across the message that essentially America is here to help”.
Prime Minister Sunak will not meet any of Northern Ireland’s political leaders while he is in Belfast, but a spokesperson said that did not mean he had given up on getting the DUP back into power-sharing.